Forest cover change and its driving forces in Fagita Lekoma District, Ethiopia

This study investigated forest cover change and the driving forces behind it in Fagita Lekoma District of Ethiopia that resulted in increased forest cover, which might be uncommon outside this case study area. The LULC change analysis was made from 2003 to 2017 based on Landsat images. Socioeconomic analysis was carried out to identify the major driving forces that resulted in LULC change. A questionnaire survey, focused group discussion, key informant interviews and field observation were employed to analyze the link between LULC change and the driving forces. The 15-year period (2003-2017) image analysis revealed that the coverage of forest lands, built-up areas and grassland has increased by 256%, 100% and 96%, respectively, at the expense of cultivated lands and wetlands. The increased forest cover is due to the woodlots expansion ofAcacia decurrensWilld, which are designed for sustainable livelihoods and a land revitalization strategy in the study area. Rapid population growth, an increasing demand for charcoal and subsequent market opportunities, preferred qualities ofA. decurrensor black wattle to halt land degradation as well as to improve land productivity, have been identified as the major driving forces of forest cover change. Chi squared analysis revealed that: a comparative cash income from the sale ofA. decurrens; a dependency on natural forests; the distance from the district administrative center; the size of the active labor force, and the area of land owned have significantly affected the cover change. The major forest cover change is due to the expansion ofA. decurrensplantations that have socioeconomic and environmental implications to improve rural livelihoods and revitalize the land. Thus, the positive experiences identified in this study should be scaled-up and applied in other similar settings.